Bucs Come Up Short on Third Down

Monday

Nov 26, 2012 at 1:40 AM

When the Tampa Bay Bucs look back at Sunday's 24-23 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, there will be a lot of plays that stand out.

By RICK BROWNTHE LEDGER

TAMPA | When the Tampa Bay Bucs look back at Sunday's 24-23 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, there will be a lot of plays that stand out.There was the holding call on Bucs safety and Lakeland's High Ahmad Black in the end zone that kept a drive alive. There was the 80-yard touchdown pass to Julio Jones where Leonard Johnson missed a tackle. There was the decision to attempt a 56-yard field goal that wasn't even close. Or they will wonder why they didn't call time out before the 2-minute warning to give themselves more time.Black was especially bummed following the game. He said following the game, "that was (the ball game)."Yet, the second-year player shouldn't be too hard on himself on what was a questionable call at best.When Tampa Bay looks back at this game, there is only one stat it really needs to see: Atlanta's third-down conversions.The Falcons converted an amazing 8 of 13 third-down attempts in the victory.Opponents' success on third down isn't anything new this year for Tampa Bay. The Bucs entered the game allowing opponents to convert 41.1 percent of third-down opportunities. Most teams allow opponents in the low 30 percent range. The 10-1 Houston Texans allow just 29 percent. Converting third downs not only extends drives but eventually wears out defenses."It's definitely got to get better," Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said. "We can't allow people to extend drives on us. We have too good an offense to not let them on the field. We've got to do a better job of getting off the field on third down."It has been a common occurrence for the Bucs all season.In four games this season, the Bucs have allowed their opponents to convert more than 50 percent of third-down opportunities and three games over 60 percent.That just places too much pressure on the offense.Atlanta converted three third downs early in the second quarter that led to a touchdown. The yardage varied from manageable (3 yards) to long (7 yards) to short (1 yard). On the last one, Jaquizz Rodgers rushed for a 5-yard touchdown.On a couple of occasions, the Bucs' defense stood tall on third down. Ronde Barber's interception and E.J. Biggers' sack fumble both came on third downs.But with 1:55 left in the game, the Falcons faced a third-and-5 from the Bucs' 37. Quarterback Matt Ryan found Roddy White for an 8-yard gain and a first down. That allowed the Falcons to use another 1:47 seconds off of the clock."The ultimate goal is to win the game," defensive lineman Roy Miller said. "We've been in this situation too many times whether it's one point or three points. They say we fight but at the end of the day it's all about wins and losses. We made plays but we didn't make enough."Especially on third down.It is easy to rag on Tampa Bay's secondary but there was no way the Bucs anticipated they would start a game with Biggers and Johnson at any point this season. But that doesn't matter. You could have Hall of Famers Deion Sanders and Darrell Green at corner and there would still be trouble. The Bucs have to start making plays up front and on the back end in order to get off the field.If not, losses like the one Sunday will continue.

[ Rick Brown may be reached at rick.brown@theledger.com. Follow his Bucs coverage at BucsScene.blogs.theledger.com and on Twitter: @LedgeronBucs. ]